The increased availability and accessibility of information has had a major impact on the process of financial reporting. Most companies have websites and make available to stakeholders a significant amount of financial information, including annual reports and other financial data. This has sparked the question of whether companies should use a continuous reporting model instead of the current discrete model where financial statements are generally issued only quarterly and annually. Under a continuous reporting model, the company would make more information available to users in real time or perhaps on a “delayed” real-time basis (such as weekly).
Instructions
What are the pros and cons of a continuous reporting model? Consider the various stakeholders in the capital market- place.